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📁 Recommended Folder Structure

Organize your book files for optimal performance with Booklore. A well-structured folder hierarchy ensures accurate book detection, proper multi-format grouping, and seamless metadata association. This guide covers folder organization best practices for different library types.

Pro Tip

Choose your folder structure before adding books to Booklore. Migrating an existing disorganized library is more complex than starting with a clean structure.

🌟 What You'll Achieve​

With proper folder organization, you can:

  • Group multiple formats automatically (EPUB, PDF, audiobook) as a single book
  • Improve metadata accuracy with predictable file locations
  • Enable smart series detection with numbered entries kept separate
  • Simplify library maintenance with logical, browsable structures

✨ How Booklore Detects Books​

Booklore uses intelligent detection to determine which files belong together as a single book.

Folder-Based Grouping​

When files are inside a subfolder, Booklore uses the folder name as reference and groups files that match it.

Library/
└── American Gods/
    ├── American Gods.epub          ← Matches folder name
    ├── American Gods.pdf           ← Matches folder name
    └── American Gods (Audiobook).m4b   ← Matches folder name

All three files become one book with three format options.

Smart Matching​

Booklore applies fuzzy matching to handle common variations:

  • Format indicators in parentheses: 1984 (Audiobook).m4b, Dune [EPUB].epub
  • Edition descriptors: The Hobbit - 10th Anniversary Edition.pdf, Dune - Unabridged.m4b
  • Underscore/space variations: American_Gods.epub matches American Gods
What Gets Stripped

Format indicators like (pdf), [epub], (audiobook) in brackets/parentheses are removed before matching. Edition terms like unabridged, abridged, deluxe, special, collector, and numbered editions (1st edition, 10th anniversary) are also stripped.

Series Detection​

Numbered entries are kept as separate books, not grouped together:

Library/
└── Mistborn/
    ├── Mistborn Book 1.epub    ← Separate book
    ├── Mistborn Book 2.epub    ← Separate book
    └── Mistborn Book 3.epub    ← Separate book

Booklore recognizes patterns like Book 1, Vol. 2, Volume 3, Part 4, Chapter 5, Episode 6, #7, and No. 8 as series indicators.

Root-Level Files​

Files placed directly at the library root (not in subfolders) are grouped by exact base name match:

Library/
├── American Gods.epub     ← These two group together
├── American Gods.pdf      ← (same base name)
├── The Hobbit.epub        ← Separate book
└── Dune.pdf               ← Separate book
Root-Level Limitation

Root-level grouping only works for exact name matches. The folder-based fuzzy matching (which handles variations like edition suffixes) only applies to files within subfolders. For best results, use subfolders.

📚 Recommended Structures​

Structure 1: One Folder Per Book​

The simplest and most reliable structure. Each book lives in its own folder.

Library/
├── The Name of the Wind/
│   ├── The Name of the Wind.epub
│   └── The Name of the Wind.pdf
├── The Wise Man's Fear/
│   └── The Wise Man's Fear.epub
└── The Doors of Stone/
    └── The Doors of Stone.epub

Advantages:

  • Crystal-clear book boundaries
  • Perfect for multi-format collections
  • Best fuzzy matching support
  • Easy to add new formats later

Structure 2: Author Folders with Book Subfolders​

Organize by author, then by book. Ideal for large collections.

Library/
├── Patrick Rothfuss/
│   ├── The Name of the Wind/
│   │   └── The Name of the Wind.epub
│   └── The Wise Man's Fear/
│       └── The Wise Man's Fear.epub
├── Brandon Sanderson/
│   ├── Elantris/
│   │   └── Elantris.epub
│   └── Warbreaker/
│       └── Warbreaker.epub
└── Neil Gaiman/
    └── American Gods/
        ├── American Gods.epub
        └── American Gods.m4b

Advantages:

  • Easy to browse by author
  • Clear separation between books
  • Scales well for large libraries

Structure 3: Series Organization​

Group books by series, with each entry in its own folder.

Library/
├── Discworld/
│   ├── 01 - The Colour of Magic/
│   │   └── The Colour of Magic.epub
│   ├── 02 - The Light Fantastic/
│   │   └── The Light Fantastic.epub
│   └── 03 - Equal Rites/
│       └── Equal Rites.epub
├── Harry Potter/
│   ├── 01 - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone/
│   │   └── Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.epub
│   └── 02 - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets/
│       └── Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.epub
└── Standalone/
    └── The Alchemist/
        └── The Alchemist.epub

Advantages:

  • Series order is visually clear
  • Numbered prefixes ensure correct sorting
  • Standalone books have a dedicated home

Structure 4: Flat File Structure​

All books at root level without subfolders. Simple but limited.

Library/
├── American Gods.epub
├── The Hobbit.epub
├── 1984.pdf
└── Dune.epub

Limitations:

  • Only exact name matches group together
  • No fuzzy matching for variations
  • No author/series organization
  • Harder to manage large collections
When to Use Flat Structure

Flat structure works for simple, single-format libraries. If you have multiple formats, ensure filenames match exactly (e.g., Book.epub and Book.pdf).

🎯 Multi-Format Grouping​

When you have multiple formats of the same book (EPUB, PDF, audiobook), Booklore can group them as a single book entry with multiple files.

Requirements for Grouping​

For files in subfolders:

  1. Files must be in the same subfolder
  2. Filenames should match or be similar to the folder name
  3. Files should not have different series numbers

For files at root level:

  1. Filenames must have the exact same base name (before extension)
  2. Files should not have different series numbers

Example: Proper Multi-Format Setup​

Library/
└── Project Hail Mary/
    ├── Project Hail Mary.epub
    ├── Project Hail Mary.pdf
    └── Project Hail Mary (Unabridged).m4b

All three files become one book with three format options.

Example: Files That Stay Separate​

Library/
└── Mistborn/
    ├── Mistborn Book 1.epub
    ├── Mistborn Book 2.epub
    └── Mistborn Book 3.epub

These remain three separate books because they have different series numbers.

🔧 Naming Conventions​

File Naming Best Practices​

DoDon't
The Hobbit.epubhobbit_final_v2.epub
American Gods.pdfAG_scan.pdf
1984 (Audiobook).m4baudiobook.m4b

Folder Naming Best Practices​

DoDon't
The Name of the Wind/book1/
01 - The Colour of Magic/discworld1/
Brandon Sanderson/author_bs/
Match Names to Folders

Name your files similarly to the parent folder for best automatic grouping results.

🐛 Troubleshooting​

Books Not Grouping Correctly​

Issue: Multiple formats appear as separate books

Solutions:

  • Ensure files are in the same subfolder
  • Verify filenames are similar to the folder name
  • Check that files don't have different series numbers
  • Rescan the library after reorganizing files

Series Books Merged Together​

Issue: Different series entries merged into one book

Solutions:

  • Use separate folders for each series entry
  • Include series indicators in filenames (Book 1, Vol. 2)
  • Ensure each series entry has a unique folder

Root-Level Files Not Grouping​

Issue: Files at library root with similar names not grouping

Explanation: Root-level files only group on exact base name match. Move files into a subfolder for fuzzy matching support.

# Before (won't group - different keys at root level)
Library/
├── The Hobbit.epub
└── The Hobbit - 10th Anniversary.pdf

# After (will group via substring matching)
Library/
└── The Hobbit/
    ├── The Hobbit.epub
    └── The Hobbit - 10th Anniversary.pdf

Inconsistent Detection Results​

Issue: Some books detected correctly, others not

Solutions:

  • Standardize your folder structure
  • Use consistent naming conventions
  • Check for hidden characters in filenames
  • Ensure folder names match the book titles

🎓 Best Practices Summary​

Do's​

  • Use one folder per book for multi-format collections
  • Name files similarly to their parent folder
  • Include series numbers in folder or file names
  • Organize by author or series for large collections
  • Use descriptive, readable folder names

Don'ts​

  • Don't mix different books in the same folder
  • Don't use cryptic folder names like book1/ or new/
  • Don't rely on filename alone for series differentiation
  • Don't change folder structure without rescanning the library
Organized Library

A well-organized folder structure is the foundation of a great Booklore experience. Take time to plan your structure, and Booklore will reward you with accurate detection and seamless multi-format support!